HH/VB vs. BCV/BWV

[trepka1440]

Question? Would it make more sense to buy at HH or VB and get more points for your money? We usually stay @ BCV or BWV but almost always during off peak times, so we really don't need the 11 month vs. 7 month advantage.

What do you DVC vets think of this strategy???

 

[Mtnman44]

I considered the same idea. Still am to some degree but with OKW instead. The thing is, I don't think you can count on getting the very popular "standard view" rates at BWV as those will likely be full at 7 months. If you only want a preferred view, you might get lucky some of the time but remember, the "off season" seems to be very popular at the DVC locations due to the lower points required.

Also, have you checked the maint fees at VB? Ouch. Those will cost you a lot more over time than the initial savings of lower $ per point.

I'm still a wannabe, but the folks with experience seem to say "Buy where you want to stay the most". Probably wise to listen to those that have "been there, done that."

Have you considered this:

I'm thinking of buying the my bulk of points (say 150) at OKW or SSR for the low purchase cost AND the lower maint fees. Then I would add on a smaller contract (75 or so) for BWV so I know I could stay there at least a few days (or a week with borrowing). For a longer stay, this would probably require changing resorts at some point but I don't mind that. I kinda want to try differnet resorts during long stays but I definately want BWV for at least some days, especially on my Epcot and MGM visit days. Another benefit is the bulk of your ownership last 12 years longer and could be sold for more $ later on or last longer to pass down or whatever.

I'm still deciding if all of that is worth the trouble. I may just buy everything at BWV, who knows...

 

[salmoneous]

3 Possible Problems with your Plan

1) Over the life of your contract you will pay more in maintenance fees than you will in up-front costs. When looking at the total cost you will pay, the up-front cost differences between are pretty small. And if the maintenance fees at the beach resorts end up being higher than at the WDW resorts, you will lose any savings (currently VB's are the highest in the system, while HHI are towards the bottom.)

2) Any of the resorts can be spun off from the DVC system. The risk is pretty small, but is much greater at the beach resorts than the WDW resorts. This one is a killer for me. I think buying at HHI/VB is great if that's where you want to vacation. But I wouldn't buy there if I really only wanted WDW

3) Things change. You stay during the off season now, but you may own for another 30+ years. You might want to stay during busy times at some point (also note that off season for DVC is often different than for the rest of Disney. Early December is off-season for much of Disney, but is one of the busiest times at DVC - when you really need the 11-month window to get into some resorts.)

 

[Beca]

I used to be very much in the "buy where you want to stay" camp. Especially since, every time DVC adds a new resort, it adds thousands of members, and that makes getting into one specific resort much more difficult. However, in light of the fact that DVC just limited the number of transfers an owner can make in a year to one, I am now of the opinion that DVC will do whatever it can to make sure there will be rooms available at all resorts at the seven month window...even if they have to limit more of our flexibility to do that.

So, I have now moved to the buy the best value camp. VB is not the best value...MF's are too high. HH seems like a really good value, especially considering that the MF's are the lowest in the system. However, either of these resorts could be sold if need be, and OKW is almost as cheap on the resale market as HH. So, if you are looking for a bargain...consider OKW.

On the other hand, if you can book early and guarantee the standard view at BWV, you can save a LOT of points by doing so...which means that you can buy fewer points and bring your price down that way.

It's all about what matters to you.

Good luck!!

 

[dvcnewgirl]

I bought at HH because I could get more points for the money. People say buy were you want to stay and you should if you want to stay at one resort or travel during DVC's busy times and are unable to be flexible with dates. I dont care what resort I get I would eventually like to stay at them all and so I am happy with what I bought. I also did a BWV add on so I could get standard room view. I bought 50 points so I can bank and borrow. That was much cheaper than buying a huge contract at BWV. I agree that I would not buy at VB if I didnt want to stay there because of the high MF's but HH has been great to me.

 

[senecabeach]

I certainly wouldn't consider owning a home or timeshare in "Hurricane Alley". VB was closed for renovations from the last big hurricane and HH, IMHO, has been very lucky...so far.

In light of the new DVC rules, I agree with Beca's comments....get the "Biggest Bang for your Buck" and that's either SSR or OKW resale or SSR thru Disney (with the current incentive)...or, in Feb 07' maybe AKV on incentives...yet to come

 

[dis-happy]

I certainly wouldn't consider owning a home or timeshare in "Hurricane Alley". VB was closed for renovations from the last big hurricane and HH, IMHO, has been very lucky...so far.

I wouldn't be quite as concerned about hurricanes in HH. The past couple of years when all those hurricanes were hitting Florida, HH just got a bit of rain. (in fact, my Melbourne friends evacuated to HH to be safe). I can't remember which hurricane was the last one to affect HH, but it was many years ago.

 

[CarolMN]

Beca's comments make a lot of sense if you are among those who assume that the "point morphers" were responsible for booking up the smaller resorts before the 7 month window opened. While I am very glad DVC has addressed that problem (by restricting the number of transfers), I am not so sure that was the main cause of limited availability at 7 months.

For at least the BWV (especially for standard views and guaranteed Boardwalk views), I think it is the owners who are booking early and making availability limited at the 7 month window.

Consider how many posters in just this thread are talking about getting a small contract for BWV.

Think about how many people say the smaller contracts go fast (on the resale market).

Those people buying the smaller contracts at BWV, BCV & VWL are not just looking for more points. They are buying specific resorts to use at the 11 month booking window!

If you truly don't care which on site resort you stay at - buy the best value.

If you cannot or will not book more than 7 months in advance - buy the best value.

If you don't mind using the waitlist or don't mind changing resorts during your vacation if necessary - buy the best value.

FWIW, IMHO, the easiest times to book one of the smaller resorts at 7 months currently are:

* January - mid February
* May
* September

Of course there is/has been some availability at 7 months for almost all of the resorts for most times of the year. Some times you will get lucky. (So no need to post that you always get what you want at 7 months - I believe you, but strongly believe it happens for the "lucky", LOL).

Luck usually follows those who thoroughly understand the system and are willing & able to do things like day by day reservations and auto waitlisting by individual day. Luck also follows those who are focused and passionate and persistent.

I still think for most, it's best to buy where you want to stay. DVC life is simpler for those that do.

Best wishes -

 

[skibum]

I think if you will be staying at WDW, you should purchase at WDW. That way you can book something at 11 months on-site and be guaranteed of lodging. Then at 7 months, try to switch into you preferred resort.
We went through the same thought process as you are when we first started researching our purchase, and ended up purchasing at SSR because of the extra 12 years and lowest maintenance fees.
Good luck with the decision-making process!

 

[tor]

Any of the resorts can be spun off from the DVC system. The risk is pretty small, but is much greater at the beach resorts than the WDW resorts. This one is a killer for me. I think buying at HHI/VB is great if that's where you want to vacation. But I wouldn't buy there if I really only wanted WDW

Why would the spinoff risk be any greater at the beach resorts when you consider the BWV has two non disney hotels right next door

 

[LisaS]

I agree with CarolMN. When DH and I were contemplating purchasing, we knew we wanted to stay in an Epcot resort most of the time. I do all the vacation planning. I knew I didn't want to have to deal with the "book at home resort at 11 months, try to switch to desired resort at 7 months" shuffle every time we made plans to go to WDW. And I definitely didn't want to end up on the waiting list for some of my days, particularly days in the middle of the trip which, if they didn't come through would have us switching resorts twice during our stay. So to me, the extra money was well worth it. I make our reservations 11 months out and know that we will be right where we want to be.